Hyper Beam

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The Hyper Beam (ハイパービーム,Haipā Bīmu?) was first officially introduced in Super Metroid. The Hyper Beam is a special and incredibly powerful beam. The beam itself is a long line of shifting rainbow colors.

Samus Aran acquired the Hyper Beam when she was losing in her final showdown against the Mother Brain. Her baby attacked Mother Brain and drained from her the energy used to fire the Laser Brain Attack, giving it to Samus as it replenished her Energy Tanks. Mother Brain killed it, and it exploded over Samus, channeling the energy through its remains into her Power Suit, which presumably created the Hyper Beam. Samus used the Hyper Beam's immense power to overpower and defeat Mother Brain once and for all.

The Hyper Beam replaces all other beams in Samus's inventory, and is immensely powerful. It can pass through walls and enemies and it destroys obstacles that are impenetrable to other beams, such as Shutters. The projectile looks like the charged Plasma Beam, but flashes rainbow colors. It also cannot be charged to increase its power; holding the fire button causes the beam to rapid-fire, much like the Phazon Beam.

What happened to the Hyper Beam after Super Metroid is unknown, though it seems to have been a temporary surge in power as she never used it in any subsequent games.

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"A dream - I was reliving the tragic moments of my recent past. The Baby Metroid that had emerged from its egg in front of me so long ago was protecting me from the assault of Mother Brain. It would sacrifice its life to save me, and in doing so, give me the power of the Hyper Beam that would spell Mother Brain's doom."

In Other M, Samus says in monologue and in the Art Folio that the baby gave her the Hyper Beam. How it does so is unknown, as Samus does not flash as she did in Super Metroid when the Hyper Beam was gifted to her, though the flashing was likely just an effect used in Super Metroid to signify Samus gaining the beam.

Other M presents the Hyper Beam with a bright orange color rather than the original shifting colors, and as a single, charged blast.

Samus also acquires a different Hyper Beam in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption when the PED Suit is built into her armor. It does, however, hold significant difference to the version pertaining to this article. The Hyper Beam in Corruption is a variation of the Phazon Beam, while the Super Metroid version is formed of the energy, and seemingly the laser weapon, stolen from Mother Brain by the baby.

The Hyper Beam shares its name with a powerful move in the English versions of Nintendo's Pokemon series games. Its original name in Japanese Pokemon games, however, is "Hakai Kousen" (lit. Destruction Beam), and as such, no connection between the two have been established. Interestingly, in the Generation IV games, the Hyper Beam is shown as a rainbow-colored beam.

Despite not being able to be charged, the Hyper Beam is considered a charge beam by the game. This allows Samus to perform instant Five-Bomb Drops and Spin Jump Attacks, but with a very strict timing.

The Hyper Beam also shares a firing sound effect with charged Spazer or Plasma Beam shots.